Former England hooker Jack Singleton is considering a return to rugby after recovering from a heart attack sustained during pre-season training last year, although a comeback with Gloucester Rugby appears unlikely.
The 30-year-old Singleton experienced a cardiac event and subsequently underwent two heart surgeries after being diagnosed with a hereditary condition. Having tragically lost his father to a heart attack when he was just 13, Singleton recognises the gravity of his situation. Now entering the final stage of his rehabilitation, medical assessments indicate he faces only a marginally increased risk-1 percent higher than the average healthy adult-as he contemplates resuming his athletic career.
In a recent interview with The Times, Singleton revealed, “My initial concern was about playing rugby. I sat down with my cardiologist, Professor Papadakis, and he was pretty blunt. He said it was down to me. Getting the option to come back and play is a win, but that doesn’t make it any easier a decision because only hindsight will tell if it’s the right answer.”
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He elaborated on his perspective towards physical activity, stating, “Let’s say I didn’t play rugby again. I’m not going to stop exercising at the age of 30. I could go out on a run and something could happen there. Or I could be playing five-a-side football. I am not saying that is the same as high-intensity rugby but I’d rather be doing exercise in a place where there are medics who know my history.”
Singleton has recently returned to training, initially under strict heart rate restrictions, but is now able to train without those limitations. He explained, “When I am training now, I try to do it at the club so I am supervised. It does take a while to trust myself to push through certain points of fatigue. That anxiety will definitely lessen with time. You just start to forget about it. There’s also some intrigue about playing again. I played for however many years with blocked and narrowed arteries. Did that have an effect on how I was playing?”
Having supported Singleton throughout his rehabilitation, Gloucester Rugby have confirmed that the hooker is currently out of contract. With the arrival of Wales international Dewi Lake ahead of the 2026/27 season, Singleton is no longer a Gloucester player and is considering his future options.
“I’d like to stay in the Premiership,” Singleton said, “but I’m open to going abroad.”
Gloucester head coach George Skivington expressed pride in Singleton’s progress, remarking, “As friends and colleagues, everyone at the club has been pleased to see Jack’s progress in his health and wellbeing following what was undoubtedly a frightening experience for him and his family. I’m incredibly proud of our medical department for the care and support they have provided throughout Jack’s journey, from recognising the symptoms early to coordinating specialist treatment and guiding his rehabilitation.”
While the details of Singleton’s future remain uncertain, his recovery signals a positive turn compared to a year ago.